The incredible redness of the lake, best seen from the air, the flamboyance of millions of flamingos in the breeding season, the hot springs ensuring there is still some water left in this vast lake, and the other plains animals (including wildebeest, zebra, oryx, gazelle and even the odd cheetah and lion) that can be found here, especially from December to April. So why would you visit? The harsh surroundings immediately show the origins of this place, but look beyond this desolation and you will see it. Most industrially produced sodium carbonate is soda ash, sodium carbonate anhydrate Na 2(CO 3), which is obtained by calcination (dry heating at temperatures of 150 to 200☌) of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate monohydrate or trona.Lake Natron, a very alkaline lake almost caustic which hardly supports any life. The mineral hydrated sodium carbonate is often found in association with thermonatrite, trona, mirabilite, gaylussite, gypsum and calcite. This recrystallization from decahydrate to monohydrate releases much crystal water in a mostly clear, colorless salt solution with little solid thermonatrite. Hydrated sodium carbonate is stable at room temperature but recrystallizes at only 32☌ to sodium carbonate heptahydrate, Na 2CO 3♷H 2O, then above 37-38☌ to sodium carbonate monohydrate, Na 2(CO 3) Hydrated sodium carbonate effloresces (loses water) in dry air and is partially transformed into the monohydrate thermonatrite Na 2(CO 3) It crystallizes in the monoclinic-domatic crystal system, typically forming efflorescences and encrustations. The compound sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na 2CO 3♱0 H 2O) found in historical natron has a specific gravity of 1.42 to 1.47 and a Mohs hardness of 1. Many of its ancient household roles are now filled by ordinary baking soda, natron's secondary ingredient. Soda ash also replaced natron in glassmaking. Natron's detergent properties are now commercially supplied by soda ash (the mixture's chief compound ingredient) and other chemicals. Most of natron's uses both in the home and by industry were gradually replaced with often closely related sodium compounds and minerals. The mineral was also employed as a flux to solder precious metals together. It was used along with sand in ceramic and glass making by the Romans and others at least until 640 CE. Natron is an ingredient for the making of a distinct color called Egyptian blue. Natron was added to castor oil to make a smokeless fuel which allowed Egyptian artisans to paint elaborate artworks inside ancient tombs without staining them with soot. Culturally, natron was generally thought to enhance spiritual safety for both the living and the dead. Moreover, when exposed to moisture the bicarbonate in natron increases pH, which creates a hostile environment for bacteria. The mineral was used in Egyptian mummification because it absorbs water and behaves as a drying agent. It was also an ancient household insecticide. Natron can be used to dry and preserve fish and meat. The mineral was mixed into early antiseptics for wounds and minor cuts. Undiluted, natron was a cleanser for the teeth and an early mouthwash. It softens water whilst removing oil, grease and alcohol stains. Blended with oil, it was an early form of soap. Historical natron was harvested directly as a salt mixture from dry lake beds in ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a cleaning product for both the home and body. The modern chemical symbol for sodium, Na, is an abbreviation of that element's new Latin name natrium, which was derived from natron. The English word natron is a French cognate derived from the Spanish natrón through the Arabic natrun from Greek nitron which derived from the Ancient Egyptian word netjeri, stemming from Wadi El Natrun, Egypt. 3 Chemistry of hydrated sodium carbonate.
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